Fastener for fowl markers or the like



April 20, 1954 H. w. DRYDEN 2,675,594

FASTENER FOR FOWL mamas OR THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

HORA CE W. DRYDE N ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTEN'ER FOR FOVVL MARKERS OR THE LIKE' Horace W- Dryden, Modesto, Calif.

ApplicationMay 5, 1951, Serial No. 2 24 ,704,

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved marker for fowls, and particularlyto an improved clasp for such a marker.

The broad problem of marking fowls was substantially solved by my recent introduction of a badge that fits around the fowls wing. The badge is retained in place by a thin metal strip that is looped around the wing. The ends of the strip are locked together by a clasp. With such a badge, there has been a problem in keeping the clasp firmly closed against both vertical and lateral movement. Previous forms of clasps have not prevented a lateral shift in the ends of the strap, and this shifting backand forth sometimes has caused the clasp to work itself loose, so that the badge falls off. The accidental removal of a badge is a nuisance to the breeder. When the poultry breeder finds that several badges are missing from his chickens he is in serious trouble for he may then be unable to-identify the respective fowl. His records on those fowls, which may have been kept for a year or more, become useless.

The present invention solves the problem of securely retaining a wing badge on a fowl, by providing an improved type of catch that has means for preventing lateral slippage. The invention applies to a catch of the type having a slot and a flap that is passed through the slot; and the structure that solved the problem includes a pair of ribs, one bent out from each end of the strap. These ribs are so aligned that they abut each other when the clasp is closed and extend in opposite directions. When the flap is bent down to secure the clasp against vertical movement, the ribs maintain the catch parts against lateral shifting and thereby prevent the catch from working loose. Both vertical and lateral movement are prevented. The two clasping motions act to form an interlock so that the clasp cannot come off.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof. The description is offered by way of example, in order to comply with United States Revised Statutes, Section 4888, and without intending to unduly limit the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of an improved badge embodying the principles of the invention, looking at the badge from the front.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the badge of Fig. 1, looking at the badge from the rear.

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the badge.

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of the two end portions of the metal strap of the badge, before the clasp is joined.

Fig. 6 is a similar view in perspective of the joined clasp.

Fig. '7 is a view in section taken along the line 1-1 in Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is'a view in perspective of the joined clasp, looking from the opposite direction from Figs.'6 and 7.

The badge ill shown in the drawings includes a body II and a strap l2. The body ll may be made from light weight plastic and preferably has a flat slab-like portion l3 on which there is some form of identifying insignia It, for example, numbers printed on the front face l5 of the slab E3. The body II also may have an offset flange I6 extending perpendicularly out from the rear side I! of the slab 13, a short distance above the bottom edge. The badge I0 is further described and claimedin my earlier filed application Serial No. 97,193, filed June 4, 1949.

The fiange i 6 preferably has. a longitudinal slit or channel l8, in which the strap I2 is inserted. The strap [2 may then be secured to the flange it, e. g., by staples 20. The strap l2 may be made from a light weight metal, such as aluminum, and may be approximately the width of the slotted flange [6. Near one of the straps ends 2 l there may be a slot 22, and near the other end 23 a flap 24 may be punched or out, leaving a r hole 25. Preferably the slot 22 and fiap 24 extend diagonally and are mated to fit together to form a clasp that locks the strap 12 together after it has been looped around the wing of the fowl.

The clasp as so far described, including the flap 24 and slot 22, is like that shown in my earlier application, Serial No. 54,870, filed October 16, 1948. The present invention incorporates into this combination means to prevent the flap 24 from slipping laterally relatively to the slot 22, after the clasp has been closed. This holding means includes a pair of ribs 25, 21, bent out in opposite directions from the strip l 2 and adapted to abut each other when the clasp is secured.

In the drawings which serve as an illustrative example, the rib 25 is bent out from the edge of the hole 25 opposite to the flap 24, and it is bent out in the same direction as the flap 24. The rib 26 is generally triangular when looked at along the plane of the strap with the base of the triangle lying along the edge of the hole 25. When looked at along the edge, the rib 26 appears as a curve extending convex on the side of the flap 24, and concave on its opposite side.

The other rib 2'! may be formed by bending out a triangular projection along the diagonal edge 28 of the strap end 2|. It extends in the opposite direction from the rib 28 and the hole 25 and edge 28 are so proportioned and positioned that the two ribs 26 and 21 will abut each other when the clasp is secured together.

When the badge [0 is to be placed on a fowl, the strap I2 is looped around the fowls upper wing. Then the flap 24 is inserted through the slot 22, and the two strap ends 2| and 23 are urged snugly together so that the ribs 26 and 27 abut. Then the flap 24 is bent down over the end 2|, where it will overlie the concave side of the rib 27 and will extend almost up to the edge of its own rib 26. The two ends 21, 23 cannot slide relatively to each other, because the ribs 26, 2'! abut each other and prevent such movement in one direction, and the flap 24 prevents movement in the opposite direction. Since the flap 24 is practically the same width as the slot 22, it also prevents movement along directions parallel to the slot 22. Vertical movement is impossible, because the flap 24 is clamped down firmly over the end 2|. The strap 12 cannot become unfastened because the clasp holds it in all directions of movement. The ribs 26 and 2! thus act to prevent movement in the only direction where movement is possible, and so the structure solves the problem of providing a fowl marker that will stay on, at the same time being easy to install.

I claim:

1. In a fowl marker having a metal strap adapted to be secured around a portion of the fowl, a strap having at one end a closed slot and a first rib along the outer edge of said strap generally parallel to and directly adjacent to said slot, said strap having at its other end a flap formed by punching out three sides thereof from said strap, said flap being adapted to fit closely in said slot and to be bent over after insertion through said slot to prevent its coming unclasped, and a second rib directly bordering the hole from which the flap was punched along the opposite edge from the edge where said flap is connected, said second rib extending out in the opposite direction from said first rib so that when said flap is inserted through said slot and is bent over, said ribs directly abut and prevent lateral movement of said strap ends in one direction while the fit of the flap in the slot prevents lateral movement in the other direction.

2. In a fowl marker, a metal strap adapted to be secured around a portion of said fowl, said strap having at one end a closed diagonal slot and a generally triangular rib with its wide edge lying on the edge adjacent said slot, said strap having at its other end a flap formed by punching a U-shaped opening through said strap, and a generally triangular rib with its wide edge lying along the lower edge of the U, said secondnamed rib extending out in the opposite direc tion from said first named rib, whereby the ends of said strap may be secured together and held tightly against lateral, longitudinal and vertical movement, the wide edges of the triangular ribs engaging against each other while said flap is inserted in said closed diagonal slot and bent against the strap portion adjacent said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 113,518 Holmes et al Apr. 11, 1871 161,409 Hardman Mar. 30, 1875 237,039 Miller Jan. 25, 1881 285,489 Jones Sept. 25, 1883 881,152 Ren'shaw Mar. 10, 1908 1,089,508 Smith Mar. 10, 1914 1,921,077 Gey Aug. 8, 1933 2,035,351 Taylor Mar. 24, 1936 2,594,623 Dryden Apr. 29, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,651 Great Britain July 15, 1899 a Mu 

